Assessment

ISAT Reading Performance Definitions
Grade 5

EXCEEDS STANDARDS

Students who exceed standards demonstrate a strong
comprehension of text beyond their grade level. They use structural
and context
clues from across an entire passage to determine vocabulary
meaning and accurately apply knowledge of synonyms, antonyms, and
homonyms
and to interpret idioms and analogies.

Students demonstrate an understanding of text by identifying explicit
and implicit main ideas and key details, and they consistently
make connections between information found in several points in
a passage. They use evidence implicit in the text and prior knowledge
to accurately draw inferences and conclusions and to extract concepts.
They reach conclusions about character traits and how they influence
events, and they understand complex or subtle themes or messages.
They examine content and structure to determine author’s
purpose.

Students make accurate predictions about outcomes based on information
in a passage. They distinguish fact and opinion, understand cause
and effect, and analyze elements of text that indicate persuasion.
They analyze the function and impact of literary devices and figurative
language. They can differentiate genres through analysis of text.

Students use information from multiple locations in the text to
interpret charts, diagrams, and graphs. They efficiently locate
information and follow multi-step directions.

MEETS STANDARDS

Students who meet standards demonstrate an overall
comprehension of grade-level text. They use context clues within
sentences
to determine the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary. They recognize
words used as synonyms and antonyms and use context to determine
the meaning of idioms and analogies.

Students recognize explicit main ideas and details and can identify
supporting statements. They draw inferences and conclusions using
textual support and prior knowledge. They use clues to determine
primary character traits and how these traits motivate actions.
They infer the author’s purpose based on information directly
stated in the text. They can identify the correct sequence of events
and recognize events that affect later actions. They understand
important themes.

Students at this level make predictions about outcomes. They understand
fact and opinion, cause and effect, and elements of persuasion.
They examine the purpose of literary devices and figurative language
and differentiate literary genres.

Students use text features to interpret charts, diagrams, and
graphs to reach logical conclusions. They locate information and
follow directions.

BELOW STANDARDS

Students at the below standards level demonstrate an incomplete
understanding of grade-level text.

They inconsistently use context
clues to understand unfamiliar vocabulary, struggling when the
context involves subtlety.

Students are generally unable to differentiate main ideas from
developmental details. They struggle to draw inferences and conclusions.
They can identify facts about characters but are seldom able to
analyze character traits. While they can identify plot elements
in text, they may be unable to connect events to future actions.
They do not generally understand themes.

Students may make obvious predictions but struggle with subtle
clues. They focus more on literal statements, failing to grasp
implicit ideas. They can identify obvious facts and opinions and
cause/effect relationships, but they only occasionally recognize
elements of persuasion. They recognize the use of literary devices
but lack the skills to realize their impact. They seldom differentiate
literary genres.

Students find information when it is directly stated but are unable
to use parts of a chart, diagram, or graph to form a conclusion.
They struggle to follow directions.

ACADEMIC WARNING

Students at the academic warning level have a limited comprehension
of grade-level text. Due to a weak understanding of grade-level
vocabulary,
they cannot determine the meaning of unfamiliar words.

Students often confuse main ideas with supporting details. They
are generally unable to draw inferences and conclusions. They have
few insights into aspects of characterization, and a lack of comprehension
prevents them from following a sequence of events and from understanding
general themes.

Students are unable to make predictions accurately. They may be
able to identify an author’s broad purpose, but there is
little or no recognition of the use of opinions, of cause/effect,
or the presence of persuasion. There is little familiarity with
literary devices or genres.

Students misuse or ignore headings, bold print, and numbering
to decipher text. They are generally unable to follow simple directions.